Copper Alloy C19020
UNS C19020
C19020 is a lightly alloyed wrought copper (C10000–C19999 family) with nickel and tin additions that raise strength, formability and stress-relaxation resistance above pure copper.
Reference datasheet — C19020 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the HR04 condition
C19020 tempers and conditions
C19020 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. HR04 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soft annealed | Pick for deep-drawn or severely formed parts that will be work-hardened or heat treated afterwards. | 140 | 320 | 32 | 52 HRB | 42 % IACS |
Half hard | Cold-rolled half-hard strip when maximum bendability matters more than relaxation resistance. | 380 | 425 | 12 | 123 HB | 41 % IACS |
Half hard, cold rolled and stress relieved | Choose when tight-radius bending (small R/t) is required together with good stress-relaxation resistance. | 410 | 450 | 13 | 131 HB | 46 % IACS |
Full hard | Cold-rolled hard strip for stamped parts that receive their own downstream thermal treatment. | 465 | 500 | 6 | 145 HB | 41 % IACS |
HR04Default Full hard, cold rolled and stress relieved | The workhorse connector temper: best balance of ~520 MPa strength, formability and low stress relaxation. | 490 | 520 | 6 | 152 HB | 45 % IACS |
Extra hard, cold rolled and stress relieved | Higher contact force in thin gauges where only generous bend radii (or bend-good-way stamping) are used. | 545 | 570 | 4 | 166 HB | 45 % IACS |
Spring temper, cold rolled and stress relieved | Maximum yield strength and spring-back for high-force contact springs; least formable temper. | 590 | 610 | 3 | 180 HB | 44 % IACS |
What is C19020?
C19020 is a lightly alloyed wrought copper (C10000–C19999 family) with nickel and tin additions that raise strength, formability and stress-relaxation resistance above pure copper. In the default temper it provides 490 MPa yield, 520 MPa tensile and 152 HB (82 HRB) while holding 45 % IACS and 180 W/m·K, and it is supplied mainly as thin rolled strip in O60 through H04 and the stress-relieved HR02–HR08 tempers for progressive-die stamping. Elongation is only 6 % and maximum service temperature is 175 °C, so bend radii and hot environments must be checked. C19025 is the nearest higher-strength option; C19400 is cheaper and more conductive. C19020 has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 77% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,065°C (1,949 °F). C19020 has a yield strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 88% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 125 GPa (18.1 Msi).
What is C19020 used for?
- electronic connectors
- terminals
- lead frames
Advantages
- High strength — 490 MPa (71.1 ksi), better than 88% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 45 % IACS, better than 77% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 180 W/m·K (104 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 175°C (347 °F), worse than 92% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
C19020 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C19020-HR04; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C19020 has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 77% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,065°C (1,949 °F).
Mechanical12
C19020 has a yield strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 88% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 125 GPa (18.1 Msi).
Thermal6
C19020 is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 180 W/m·K (104 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.6 µm/m·K (9.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C19020 conducts electricity at 45 % IACS, better than 77% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 57% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C19020 takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
C19020's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the copper alloy family
Yield strength against density for every copper alloy grade FabDigit runs. C19020 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C19020
Is C19020 easy to machine?
Gummy like most low-alloy coppers — use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, generous coolant; chip breaking is poor, rate roughly 20 % of free-cutting brass.
Can C19020 be welded?
Resistance and laser welding of thin strip are routine; fusion welding softens the cold-worked temper locally and lowers spring force, so joints are usually crimped, welded at tabs, or soldered.
Can C19020 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent progressive-die stamping and coining; bend R/t improves markedly in the stress-relieved HR tempers, but bad-way bends in HR06/HR08 need generous radii.
C19020 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Nisolid-solution + phosphide strengthening | 0.8 – 1.8 | 1 |
| Snsolid-solution strengthening, relaxation resistance | 0.5 – 1.5 | 0.9 |
| Pforms Ni-P precipitates, deoxidizer | 0.01 – 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Cu97.0 % min Cu + named elements | balance |
What surface finishes work on C19020?
Not anodizable — standard finishes are electrolytic tin, tin-lead-free reflow, nickel underlay with gold or palladium-nickel flash for contact areas.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on copper alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
How much does C19020 cost?
C19020 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C19020 — frequently asked
What is C19020 used for?
C19020 is typically used for electronic connectors, terminals and lead frames. In short: connector-grade spring copper; good stress-relaxation resistance; 45 % IACS at 520 MPa.
What is the yield strength of C19020?
C19020 has a typical yield strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — stronger than 88% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is C19020 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Gummy like most low-alloy coppers — use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, generous coolant; chip breaking is poor, rate roughly 20 % of free-cutting brass.
Can C19020 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Resistance and laser welding of thin strip are routine; fusion welding softens the cold-worked temper locally and lowers spring force, so joints are usually crimped, welded at tabs, or soldered.
What surface finishes work on C19020?
Not anodizable — standard finishes are electrolytic tin, tin-lead-free reflow, nickel underlay with gold or palladium-nickel flash for contact areas.
Can C19020 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent progressive-die stamping and coining; bend R/t improves markedly in the stress-relieved HR tempers, but bad-way bends in HR06/HR08 need generous radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of C19020?
C19020 is rated for continuous use to about 175°C (347 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C19020-HR04 and C19020-O60?
HR04 is the default condition — the workhorse connector temper: best balance of ~520 MPa strength, formability and low stress relaxation. O60: pick for deep-drawn or severely formed parts that will be work-hardened or heat treated afterwards. Yield strength is 490 MPa in HR04 versus 140 MPa in O60.
How much does C19020 cost?
C19020 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B888 / B465-class copper alloy strip for electrical connectors — ASTM International (2020)
- CDA/UNS Standard Designations for Wrought Copper Alloys (C19020) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Cu-Ni-Sn-P high-performance connector strip datasheet — Wieland / Kobe Steel (comparable grades) (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.